Israel’s air strike killed 13 Palestinian civilians including three top commanders of the militant group Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.
The strikes took place in the wee hours of Tuesday when 40 Israeli warplanes and helicopters attacked several places across the Gaza strip, the deadly strike hit homes and created a panic situation among residents.
Following the air strikes, Palestinian health officials confirmed that eight women and children were among the dead people and another had received severe injuries.
“Four children and four women were among those killed in the strike. most of the injured were women and children and many were in critical condition in hospital,” officials added.
Meanwhile, Israel issued a statement and claimed that they had only targeted militants who pose an imminent threat to their citizens.
Israel further stated that Islamic Jihad is a vindictive group and is expected to respond with rocket fire into Israel.
Reports suggested that at least two apartments with their fronts collided down strongly.
Russian representative office located in Palestinian territories announced a Russian citizen named Dr Jamal Khuswan, a former chairman of the Gaza Dentists Association, was also killed in the strike along with his wife and son.
As per BBC reports, Mohammed Khuswan was a prominent dentist and during the Isreal strike, he and his family were inside their home when it was hit by a missile.
Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad’s military wing, the al-Quds Brigades, confirmed the deaths of three of its
Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad group confirmed the death of three commanders along with their wives and children.
They identified them as Jihad Shaker al-Ghannam (secretary of the al-Quds Brigades’ Military Council), Khalil Salah al-Bahtini (the commander of its Northern Region) and Tariq Mohammed Ezzedine (head of the military action in the occupied West Bank).
At least 150 civilians may have been killed and many more injured in an attack allegedly perpetrated by Burkina Faso’s security forces, the UN high commissioner for human rights has said.
In a statement on Tuesday, the commissioner, Ravina Shamdasani, called for a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into what it called the “horrific killing of civilians” in the village of Karma, in northern Yatenga province.
On Monday, Burkina Faso’s prosecutor said it had opened an investigation into the killings but put the death toll at 60, less than half the number estimated by the UN and local people.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by locals from Karma, the attack last Thursday began when a large group of armed men in military fatigues entered the town on motorcycles and armoured pickup trucks.
“Some villagers, happy to see ‘our soldiers’, came out of their houses to welcome them. Unfortunately, this joy was cut short when the first shots rang out, also causing the first casualties,” said the statement from the villagers.
Jihadi fighters linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State have waged a violent insurgency in Burkina Faso for seven years. The violence has killed thousands of people and divided the country, leading to two coups last year.
Since Capt Ibrahim Traore seized power in September 2022 during the second coup, extrajudicial killings of civilians have increased, according to rights groups and residents.
This incident – one of the deadliest against civilians by security forces – comes amid mounting allegations that the military is committing abuses against those it believes to be supporting the jihadis.
Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s government announced it was opening other investigations into allegations of human rights abuses by its security forces, after a video surfaced that appeared to show the extrajudicial killing of seven children in the country’s north.
The Associated Press this month published its own findings about the video. AP’s investigation determined that Burkina Faso’s security forces killed the children in a military base outside the town of Ouahigouya.
Days before last week’s attack, about 40 security personnel were killed near Ouahigouya. Survivors said the soldiers accused them of being jihadi accomplices, by letting them pass through their town, according to the statement from the villagers.
Since the violence, people in the community have not been able to bury their relatives as an army roadblock prevented them reaching the village, said the statement.
Conflict analysts said the alleged abuses would create a backlash against Burkina Faso’s junta and drive people into the hands of the jihadis.
“The reported human rights abuses advance the playbook of militants, it gives them talking points against the security forces and helps their recruitment efforts in the north. This is an awful recipe of consequences,” said Laith Alkhouri, the CEO of Intelonyx Intelligence Advisory, which provides intelligence analysis.
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
Ukrainian authorities say Russian forces are “forcibly evacuating” civilians in the area of the Kherson region that they still occupy, a day after it was claimed Ukrainian forces had established a bridgehead on the east bank of the Dnipro River.
“I have information that the evacuation starts today [Sunday] with an excuse of protecting civilians from the consequences of heavy fighting in the area,” Oleksandr Samoylenko, the Ukrainian head of Kherson’s regional council, said. Russian troops were “trying to steal as much as they can” as they withdrew, he added.
The claim cannot be verified, but it comes amid an apparent increase in Ukrainian military activity in the south of the country which some analysts have interpreted as a potential precursor to Kyiv’s long anticipated counter-offensive.
Serhiy Khlan, another Ukrainian official in Kherson, said over the weekend that Wagner group fighters were helping Russian occupation officials impose control over the civilian population on the east bank of the Dnipro.
Ukraine’s southern military command meanwhile reported airstrikes in Kherson region by four Russian Su-35 jets. Ukraine said buildings were hit with guided bombs, but did not specify the location of the strikes.
Attention has focused on Ukraine’s southern front around the key city of Kherson since Sunday’s report from the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based thinktank, which suggested Ukrainian forces had established positions on the east bank of the Dnipro, opposite Kherson in the area of a settlement called Dachy. The ISW made the claim after geolocating reports from Russian sources.
Analysts at the thinktank came to the conclusion after examining text messages and photos posted by “Russian military bloggers”.
Map of Ukraine
The ISW also suggested Russian forces may no longer control islands in the Kinka and Chaika rivers, less than 500 metres north of Dachy.
The apparent Ukrainian progress follows months of low-level conflict in the Dnipro delta and along the Kinburn spit, a narrow sandy peninsula. Both sides have deployed crews in rigid inflatable boats in often unreported fights over the small islands that dot the river mouth and surrounding marshes.
The handful of reports that have emerged since the beginning of the year about the delta have painted a picture of bitter fighting for small and mainly uninhabited islands, some of which have changed hands several times. With the islands and the river threatened by artillery strikes from both sides, Russian and Ukrainian forces have lost boats in the fighting.
People wait in a line to collect humanitarian food aid after Russian shelling in Kherson. Photograph: Aziz Karimov/SopaImages/Shutterstock
The Ukrainian military has asked for “patience” on reports of a possible offensive. A large-scale advance over the wide river under the threat of Russian strikes would be a large and difficult undertaking.
“The conditions of a military operation require silence until it is safe enough for our military,” a Ukrainian military spokesperson said, adding she could not confirm or deny the ISW’s report.
The reports of a potential Ukrainian advance in the south come nearly six months after Ukraine liberated Kherson city and the west bank of the Dnipro in November 2022.
According to the ISW’s most recent update, Kherson may be the most vulnerable area of Russian occupation along the long frontline.
“The Russian grouping in Kherson oblast is likely the most disorganised and undermanned in the entire theatre, highly likely mainly comprised of badly under-strength remnants of mainly mobilised units,” the thinktank said.
Speculation over Ukrainian advances in the south came as Russian authorities said they had repelled a drone attack on the port of Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea, adding that there was no damage or casualties.
It also came as audio emerged of the head of the Wagner mercenary group threatening to kill Ukrainian prisoners of war. Yevgeny Prigozhin was reacting to a Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel posting of an alleged recording of what it said were two Ukrainians deciding to shoot a Russian prisoner of war.
The channel did not say where the recording came from and there is no way of verifying its authenticity.
“We will kill everyone on the battlefield. Take no more prisoners of war!” Prigozhin said in an audio recording on Sunday “We don’t know the name of our guy shot by Ukrainians,” Prigozhin said, adding that under international law his group was obliged to “take care, treat, not hurt” any prisoners of war.
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( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )
SRINAGAR: At least two civilians and a firefighter were injured while dousing off blaze, triggered by a gas cylinder blast, in Wanihama area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Reports said that a gas cylinder exploded with a bang, resulting in fire in the house of one Mohammad Ishaq Parry, son of Ghulam Mohidin Parray at Watrigam Wanihama.
Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to contain the spread of fire and in the course of time two civilians identified as Tawseef Ahmad and Waseem Ahmad Itoo and a firefighter received injuries at the incident spot.
The injured trio was taken to a nearby hospital, where all of them are said to be stable.
An F&ES official confirming the injury of the fireman, identified him as Manzoor Ahmad, working as MD in the department.(GNS)
Srinagar, Feb 08: The Centre on Wednesday informed Rajya Sabha that 27 persons including 25 security personnel and two civilians were killed in militant attacks across Jammu since August 05, 2019.
In a written reply, Minister of State in the Ministry Of Home Affairs (MHA), Nityanand Rai, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that a total of 25 security personnel including two from Jammu-one each in 2019 and 2022, 2 in Rajouri in 2020, five in 2021 & four in 2022, 9 Poonch in 2021, 1 in Ramban in 2019, 1 in Kishtwar in 2020 and 1 Doda in 2020 were killed in militant attacks post August 5, 2019.
He also saoid two civilians were in Jammu region , which include one in Rajouri in 2021 and one in Udhampur in 2022.
He further said 48 security personnel have also been injured in militant attacks, which include 10 in 2019, four in 2020, 14 in 2021 and 15 in 2022 and 20 civilians have also been injured including one in 2020, nine in 2021 & 19 in 2022.
Replying to another question, the MoS Home said that the Village Defence Group Scheme, notified by the Government of J&K in the year 1995, did not envisage constitution of the Village Defence Committees (VDC).
“However, in terms of the Scheme ibid, Village Defence Groups (VDGs) were to be constituted. Village Defence Groups, in terms of the Scheme of 1995, have already been constituted in the Districts of Poonch and Rajouri of the Jammu Division for the protection of Villages,” it added.
“As per Village Defence Guards Scheme (VDGs), notified by the Government of UT of J&K on 14.08.2022, apart from the areas/village already declared as vulnerable areas in the Scheme of 1995, any other area/village, which may be considered more vulnerable area by the law enforcement agencies, necessitating application of the Scheme ibid to such other area/village, the Government can by an order declare such other area/village as a “more vulnerable area” for the purpose of the Scheme ibid,” he said—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: The MHA informed the Lok Sabha that 2022 saw the killing of 30 civilians and 31 security personnel as 221 others were injured in different militancy-related incidents.
In 2021, 41 civilians and 42 security personnel were killed and 192 were injured.
From January 2020 to January 2023, 115 civilians and 135 security forces personnel were killed.
In 2020, 37 civilians were killed and 61 were injured, while 62 security forces personnel were also killed and 106 were injured.
Till January 31 2023, he said 7 civilians were killed and 23 sustained injuries while no casualty or injury was reported from the security forces side.
Srinagar, Feb 07: Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai Tuesday informed the Lok Sabha that from 2020 to January 2023, 115 civilians and 135 security forces have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The minister, in a written reply, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said 37 civilian were killed and 61 were injured, while 62 security forces personnel were als killed and 106 injured in 2020.
“Similarly, year 2021 witnessed 41 civilian killing and 75 injuries while 42 security forces personnel lost their lives and 117 were injured. Year 2022 witnessed 30 civilian casualties and subsequently 134 were injured while 31 security forces personnel were killed and 87 injured.”
Till January 31 2023, he said 7 civilian were killed and 23 sustained injuries while no casualty or injury was reported from the security forces side.
He further said that the government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Various measures have been taken by the Government to protect the lives of the civilians in Jammu and Kashmir which include the round-the-clock nakas at strategic points. Group security in the form of static guards. Intensified Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) to effectively deal with the challenges posed by terrorist organizations,” he said
“Sharing of intelligence inputs on a real-time basis, amongst all security forces, operating in Jammu and Kashmir. Day & night area domination, security arrangements through appropriate deployment.”
He said the measures also preventive operations involve identifying the strategic supporters of terrorism and initiating investigations to expose their mechanisms of aiding and abetting terrorism.
“Identifications of vulnerable spots to prevent terrorist attacks on civilians. Besides, sensitizing men on the ground about the issue and initiation of measures to defeat the machination of terrorists or their mentors,” he added.
He also said CRPF has imparted necessary training to 948 Village Defence Guard members in collaboration with District Police Rajouri from Jan 01 to Jan 25 this year—(KNO)
KYIV — Pete Reed, an American volunteer medic and founder of the NGO Global Response Medicine, was killed while helping to evacuate civilians in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Reed, a former U.S. Marine, died on Thursday in the besieged city in the Donetsk region of the country, GRM said late Friday.
“In January, Pete stepped away from GRM to work with Global Outreach Doctors on their Ukraine mission and was killed while rendering aid,” the NGO said. “Pete was the bedrock of GRM, serving as Board President for 4 years,” it said.
Bakhmut has been one of the major hot spots during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the ongoing attempts to seize the city, Moscow has been throwing thousands of troops at the Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut in tactics that have gained the name “meat waves.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the city in December, calling it the “hottest spot” in the war.
“Pete was just 33 years old, but lived a life in service of others, first as a decorated U.S. Marine and then in humanitarian aid,” GRM said. “We fully support Pete’s family, friends, and colleagues during this devastating time.”
Global Outreach Doctors also confirmed the death of Reed, who was the organization’s Ukraine Country director. “Pete was actively aiding in the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians when his evacuation vehicle was hit with a reported missile in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Feb. 2,” the group said in a statement.
Reed’s wife, Alex Kay Potter, wrote on Instagram that her husband apparently died saving another team member’s life, CNN reported. “He was evacuating civilians and responding to those wounded when his ambulance was shelled,” her post said, according to the CNN report.
“Pete Reed, a volunteer medic, was killed by shelling in Bakhmut, Ukraine, yesterday while trying to evacuate civilians. One of the most selfless people I’ve ever met,” documentary photographer Cengiz Yar wrote in a tweet.
The same day Reed was killed, two other foreign volunteer doctors were injured in a bombing in Bakhmut. The medics — Norwegians Sander Sørsveen Trelvik and Simon Johnsen — were working for Frontline Doctors. They were taken to a hospital in Dnipro for surgery.
They both are recovering and preparing to return to Norway on Tuesday, Grethe Sørsveen, Sander’s mother, wrote on Facebook.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.eu )
